News for 2018 Celebration X

Forty
years ago, on a Friday afternoon in March 1982, we drove from Scotland, CT to
attend the first ever United Church of Christ New England Women’s Celebration
at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine. It was the largest gathering of women I had seen since attending
Girl Scout Roundups when I was in high school.
I could not quite believe the
singing in my heart.

I
remember hearing the story of Lydia, the seller of purple goods, listening to
Pat Schroeder the first woman elected to the US House of Representatives from
the state of Colorado, going to great workshops, and hearing powerful women preach. I remember the joy of encountering UCC women as we walked from
one workshop to another.

Most
importantly I, a youngish mother of three, a newly out lesbian woman, a member
of a UCC church, left that first celebration understanding that I was indeed at
home in the right church for me. The
United Church of Christ has continued to be my spiritual home lo these many
years hence.

UCC
New England Women’s Celebrations continued to happen every 4 years. The colors, the biblical themes changed, the
Roman numerals designating the each successive event changed, the technology
changed, the leadership and location changed.
The quality, importance, and blessing of Celebration remained
constant. We could always count on
amazing speakers and worship, fantastic and interesting workshops, I learned that I would return home from
each Celebration renewed, refreshed and rededicated to ministry in this
incredible church that has been a powerful voice for justice since its “birth”
in 1957. I’ve been there.

It
was at the end of Celebration VII that my relationship with New England Women’s
Celebration changed. On the evaluation
form I checked the little box that said “check here if you are willing to help
with Celebration VIII.” I had just
joined the planning team for Celebration VIII.
Within the general planning committee, my specific assignment was
“Displays” which meant that I was responsible to help recruit a whole variety
of people from artists to missionaries who want to share something of their
work with the several hundred women who attend each Celebration.

Being
part of the planning committee means that I get to join with creative women who bring so many ideas,
gifts, suggestions to the whole collaborative planning process that make that
New England Women’s Celebrations such exciting, life-sustaining, life changing
events for so many women from our United Church of Christ congregations in the
northeast corner of the United States. I’ve done that.

2010,
2014, 2018 and I’m still doing it.

Why? Why make so many four hour round trips to
planning committee meetings? Why sit
on mostly uncomfortable chairs in rooms full of women trying to reach consensus
on a million major decisions and tiny details?

Because
the UCC New England Women’s Celebration X will bring hundreds of women
together.

Because
listening to powerful speakers, like the Rev. Traci Blackmon, Leslie Lewin, and
more will nourish your spirit and soul.

Because
worshiping together will make hearts soar and sing with joy.

Because
attending fascinating workshops on topics like “Understanding Refugee
Neighbors, Interfaith Dialogue, Support in Prison Ministry, and many more will
inform and encourage congregations from
Houlton, Maine to Burlington, VT, to Williamstown, MA, to Provincetown, MA to
Providence, RI, to Greenwich, CT with
new ways of ministry and service.

Because
all over the world, people will be blessed, lives will be better, hope will
live because hundreds of women gathered together here in Portland Maine April
6-8, 2018 and became Celebration X.

You
are invited. Be part of the goodness of
Celebration X. Come for a blessing,
leave to be a blessing. Fill a car, a
van or a bus from your town, church, or
village because there really is a place at the table for you, for everyone. Visit
www.uccwomenscelebration.org
check it out, register. Come to the
table, just as you are for everyone is welcome.